Kindle Books Are Everywhere
They’re featured on social media, including author pages like mine. Newsletters mention them. Writer friends might send messages about new releases.
But what if you don’t own a Kindle?
This post explains how you can read Kindle books without a Kindle, and it also explains why people love their e-readers — whether they be Kindle, Kobo, iPad, Samsung …
Amazon’s Online Reader
Kindle Cloud Reader allows you to read books, comics, and samples. It even tracks your library, including notes and highlights, and it allows you to sort by:
- Recent
- Title
- Author
- Purchase Order
- Purchase Order (Reverse)
Amazon’s Free Apps for iOS, Android, Mac, and PC
“Find your next great read … Massive selection … Browse a catalog of millions of eBooks in the Kindle Store, as well as thousands of magazines, audiobooks, and comics. Try any book before you buy with a free sample.”
And for iPhone: “… go to amazon.com/ebooks in your browser. Anything you buy will sync with the app.”
Google Play Offers an Android App
Amazon Kindle Reading App: “On the bus, on your break, in your bed — never be without something to read. The Kindle app puts millions of books, magazines, newspapers, comics, and manga at your fingertips.”
The app also enables TalkBack. After enabling, “you can explore the Kindle Reading app with audio prompts from TalkBack. Audio support is also provided for books and other features.”
Do You Own a Samsung Galaxy Device?
Samsung offers an Amazon Kindle app (created by Amazon LLC): “Choose from thousands of free e-books … including new releases and New York Times Best Sellers.”
Samsung’s site includes links to Amazon Support and a page about app permissions.
The Writer’s Lexicon series
and additional resources on my Facebook page.
Why Would You Want a Kindle — Or Any E-reader?
Some of the following points came from a Facebook post on my author page.
Your e-device can store 250 to 300 books for every GB of available disk space. With devices ranging from 4GB to 32GB, that’s a whopping 1000 to 8000+ books. Can you imagine how many bookshelves you would need to store the same print editions? Even if you read a book a day, it would take 22 years to get through 8000 books.
If you encounter a word you don’t understand in a physical book, you have to consult a dictionary or search for the word elsewhere. That takes time and pulls you out of the story. In an e-reader, you can find the definition with a single finger touch. You are still pulled out of the story but for a much shorter time.
You don’t need a highlighter to mark text. Click and drag over the passage you wish to highlight, and voila, it’s done.
You don’t need physical bookmarks. With a couple of finger presses, you can add an electronic bookmark.
Does your book mention the name of a character in say, Chapter 14, but you can’t remember anything about the character (who appears near the beginning of the book)? Search for the name, and your e-reader will locate the references, starting at the first mention.
You can adjust font type, size, and weight. This is a great feature for tired or older eyes.
Do you usually wear glasses while you read? You probably won’t need them if you increase the font size on your e-reader.
Backlighting allows you to read in bed without a lamp. (Most e-readers allow you to turn the backlighting off if you don’t need or want it.)
You can purchase books within seconds and save the environment from the impact of packaging materials and carbon gases created by physical shipments.
Do you like reading in the bathtub but hate dealing with damp pages? Seal your digital device in a waterproof zip-bag, and enjoy your bath while you read.
Traveling with print books adds significantly to luggage weight. An e-reader is small enough to fit in a purse, fanny pack, large pocket, or carry-on; and it weighs just a few ounces.
Are you a fan of audiobooks? Activate text-to-speech and listen to e-books while you drive or jog.
E-readers and cellphone apps alleviate the aggravating waits in doctors’ offices, passport lines, airports, etc.
It’s easy to skip around in stories and return to your current reading position.
Some people have two e-readers — maybe one in the car or family room and another in a different location — and their devices automatically sync to the current reading position.
E-readers are easier than print books to read while working out on a treadmill, ski machine, or exercise bike.
Many people with arthritis find physical books difficult to handle. E-reader to the rescue.
Do You Own an E-reader?
The Writer’s Lexicon series
and additional resources on my Facebook page.
Discover more from KathySteinemann.com: Free Resources for Writers
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Hi Miss Kathy,
Wow, what an e-reader positive post. You should be a salesperson for every device. You could have an e-reader truck and travel locally and to remote locations. You’d make a zillion dollars. You’d become know as the e-reader lady. Your claim to fame. 🙂
Several years ago, some of my on line writer friends gave me a Kindle White. At first, I couldn’t figure out how to download stuff. My brother taught me how and after that I was off and running, i mean reading. Love it. The truth is I’d rather hold a book in my hands, but the Kindle is good for those times when I can’t.
I’m entered the August Write/Edit/Publish challenge. Also, made my blog easier to read. If you get a chance, check it out.
Thanks for this cool post. Lots of good reasons to be an e-reader reader. Is that redundant?
Hope you’ve recovered from your bout with Covid.
Take care of yourself.
Sending a ton of good vibes your way.
Fist bumps.
Thanks, Lenny. I gotta admit, I love my Kindle. Since I was introduced to the Kindle family, my reading has increased exponentially.
Good luck with the WEP Challenge. Your poem is moving. Giulietta would have blushed and welcomed Ludwig with open arms after reading it. Three thumbs up on the blog redesign. 🙂
COVID symptoms are mostly gone. Thanks for the good vibes, and here’s a ton flowing your way.
All the best, Master Poet. Keep on doing what you do!
Hi Miss Kathy,
Thanks for checking out my poem. I appreciate you taking the time to read it and leave a comment,
I’m glad you liked the new blogterior design. “best of all, no furniture” made me laugh. Ha ha. You missed it. There is one chair. Hee hee.
I’m happy you’re feeling better. Keep taking good care of yourself.
Elbow bumps.
Hmm. I sat on the hot sand and looked for a chair but couldn’t find it. You hid it well. Wait, is it that small brown square to my right? Maybe …
I’m sitting on it in the sidebar box under “i’m Lenny.” LOL
My eyes are extremely sensitive, so I find a Kindle Paperwhite that is glare-free and has 300 ppi is best for me. Even the highest resolution computer monitors are harsher on my eyes than my Kindle.
Agreed, Ed. The Paperwhite experience is similar to reading a paperback but with the plusses of features you don’t get in a physical book.
Thanks for stopping by!